The Trump administration is following up on President Donald Trump’s Friday threat to pull federal funding from Maine after his intense exchange with Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) over transgender athletes.
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating the Maine Department of Education and a Maine school district for Title IX violations.
“Maine would have you believe that it has no choice in how it treats women and girls in athletics — that is, that it must follow its state laws and allow male athletes to compete against women and girls,” acting assistant secretary for civil rights Craig Trainor said in a statement.
“Let me be clear: If Maine wants to continue to receive federal funds from the Education Department, it has to follow Title IX,” he added. “If it wants to forgo federal funds and continue to trample the rights of its young female athletes, that, too, is its choice. OCR will do everything in its power to ensure taxpayers are not funding blatant civil rights violators.”
Trump’s public argument with Mills was over Maine’s lack of compliance with a Trump executive order “keeping men out of women’s sports.” He told Mills that the state would get no federal funding if they didn’t comply, and Mills responded by saying, “We’ll see you in court.”
“I look forward to that, that should be a real easy one,” Trump quipped back. “And enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you’ll be an elected official afterward.”
The governor released a statement Friday further expressing her displeasure.
“If the president attempts to unilaterally deprive Maine school children of the benefit of federal funding, my administration and the attorney general will take all appropriate and necessary legal action to restore that funding and the academic opportunity it provides,” she said. “The state of Maine will not be intimidated by the president’s threats.”
The Education Department’s investigation also includes Greely High School in Maine School Administrative District 51. The school is allowing “at least one male student to compete in girls’ categories,” according to Trainor.
The district’s superintendent, Jeffrey Porter, sent a letter to parents Friday assuring them that Greely High School will be adding additional security measures after receiving “national media press and attention.”
“Along with this attention has been a flurry of online postings and communications, including some that have been of concern to members of the school community,” Porter wrote. “First, and foremost, I want to express the district’s unwavering support for all of our students. This support is not based upon any viewpoint, opinion, or identity. This support is unconditional for all students as valued members of our school community.”
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The investigation could result in the state and school district losing federal funding if a violation is found. Maine will likely challenge the Trump administration’s efforts to rescind funding or settle with the Office for Civil Rights to avoid repercussions.
In January, the Trump administration announced it would be enforcing Title IX on the basis of biological sex. Since then, OCR has launched investigations into Minnesota and California for civil rights violations related to transgender athletes.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
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